The workshop will be held the first weekend in October 2014 (Friday 3 October lunch through Sunday night with departure Monday 6 October after breakfast) at Il Salicone, a splendid mid-19th Century Italian villa a stone’s throw from Pistoia, not far from Florence and Pisa.

The 3-story villa is situated in the lush countryside of northern Tuscany with views of the Montalbano hills, its vineyards and olive groves. We will have exclusive access to the villa and its secluded grounds where we will be able to write and shoot in any one of the many beautiful salons or in the gardens every day, all day and into the evenings. Rooms will be shared (some have double beds), each with a private bathroom.

Saturday afternoon, Giulia Scarpaleggia, the author of two cookbooks on Tuscan cuisine and a hugely popular food blogger, will be teaching a private cooking class just for our group - together we will be preparing our evening meal.

The cost for the 3-day workshop is € 875 (euros) and will include intensive, hands-on exercises in both writing and styling/photography, as well as understanding how text and images can work together to create a more powerful story. Cost also includes 3 days, 3 nights accommodation at Il Salicone (double occupancy) and all meals (3 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts as well as snacks and refreshments during the workshop) as well as the cooking class. Workshop cost will not include airfare or transportation to or from the venue or insurance.

Plated Stories the blog is all about finding inspiration and tapping into our creativity; it is about discovering and strengthening our own individual voice and style; it is about pushing ourselves beyond our own limits. This is exactly what we will help you do at Plated Stories the workshop: you will be inspired to take that step beyond and you will learn how to channel your creativity in new ways for your own purpose. Come to beautiful Tuscany, Italy this autumn and immerse yourself in the art of writing and photography, whether for your blog or for professional pursuits.

The workshop is limited to a maximum 8 participants, creating a more intimate group, allowing for hands-on work and exercises, individual analysis and coaching, roundtable discussions and lively exchange. Keeping the workshop to 8 will allow us exclusive time with each participant to review portfolios and writing, critiquing as well as helping focus and define his/her goals and skills.

The workshop is ideal for experienced food or travel bloggers as
well as food photographers and writers - aspiring or more experienced. Whether
you combine photography and writing or concentrate on one or the other, the
workshop will help you to build
up your portfolio, hone your skills and find new creative energy.

This is not a workshop for beginners; an understanding of the basic elements of photography such as aperture, exposure and shutter speed, white balance and ISO is necessary along with laptop and post processing software (Photoshop, Paint, Lightroom or iPhoto etc.). * A DSLR camera is required and a tripod is a plus.